Plenty of familiarity within the Madness

Pittsburgh s Jamel Artis is one of several players with local prep school ties taking part in the NCAA tournament.
AP PHOTO

Welcome to March Madness.

The term used to describe the annual NCAA Division 1 men's basketball tournament. A tournament where legends are made courtesy of remarkable runs and unthinkable upsets.

And in this year's tournament, over half a dozen players have a connection to Central Massachusetts, with seven former Notre Dame Prep players and one Cushing Academy alum making it to the big dance. That's not even mentioning a former NDP head coach on the bench of one tourney-bound team and a former Crusader standout who is working his way up the coaching ranks with one of the 68 selected teams.

Here's what to watch for when it comes to players with ties to the Fitchburg and Ashburnham schools:

* Former NDP and Missouri star Kim English will see his Tulsa team open play tomorrow in one of the tourney's First Four games.

Xavier and former Notre Dame Prep star Myles Davis, right, enter the NCAA tournament as a second seed.
AP PHOTO

English is now the director of player development with the Golden Hurricanes, who will face Michigan for the 11th-seed in the East bracket.

* Also in the East is third-seeded West Virginia, which features sophomore guard and Notre Dame Prep alum Daxter Miles Jr. The Mountaineers face Stephen F. Austin on Friday.

* Pittsburgh enters the East region with a pair of NDP ties. Junior Jamel Artis has been outstanding for the No. 10 Panthers, while former Crusaders head coach Bill Barton is an assistant for Pitt. The Panthers open by facing Wisconsin on Friday.

* The East's final local tie lies with second-seeded Xavier, which kicks the tourney off with a Friday tilt against Weber State. Junior guard Myles Davis spent time on South St.

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before starring with the Musketeers.

* In the Midwest region, the 10th-seeded Syracuse Orange have former Cushing Penguin Kaleb Joseph on their roster. Joseph and Syracuse play No. 7 Dayton on Friday.

* Virginia, the top seed in the Midwest, starts its quest for a title Thursday against Hampton. The Cavaliers do so with a roster that includes freshman Justice Bartley, who spent time at Notre Dame Prep.

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